The True Cost Of Dementia with Annalee Kruger - E99

Thinking Medicare or Medicaid will cover everything in old age is a costly misconception - many families are blindsided by care costs that soar to $30,000 or more a month.Adult children and spouses suddenly become caregivers without warning, forced into overwhelming decisions and family conflicts, all while juggling the emotional toll of watching loved ones decline. Avoidance, denial, and a lack of planning can turn a difficult situation into chaos, threatening financial security and fracturing relationships.This episode is a real-world guide to navigating these realities, showing why proactive conversations and clear planning can save families from crisis, and featuring hard-earned wisdom from someone who's navigated this journey with thousands of families.Annalee Kruger founded Care Right Inc, a virtual consultancy, in 2011, after working in Continuing Care Retirement Communities for 22 years. She has devoted her career to helping families determine their "safety triggers" for when parents need care, and the aging at home care budget to prevent families from not qualifying financially to gain admission into a quality care community.She has been curated by over 32 wealth management firms to work directly with their clients. She is a national speaker on aging, caregiving, dementia, family dynamics/mediation, and end-of-life. She authored, ‘The Invisible Patient: The Emotional, Financial, and Physical Toll on Family Caregivers’. She also created the Aging Strategy Coaching Academy (ASCA), a global coaching program that addresses aging, family caregiving, dementia/chronic illness, the landscape of senior care, dying, grief, and much more.“Kids are always blindsided because they just assume that their parents are thriving at home when oftentimes they really aren't.”- Annalee KrugerIn this episode you will learn: Why most families are not ready for the challenges of aging loved ones. The biggest mistakes families make in planning for senior care and how to avoid them. The real costs of aging, and common myths about Medicare and Medicaid. How group living and social teaming can improve health and lower risk of decline. Steps every adult can take now to make aging easier for themselves and others. Why solo agers need to plan ahead and build a strong support network early.Resources Connect with Annalee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carerightinc/ Watch her YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBY2WWuTdSylECzGvksCC2w Learn more about Care Right Inc.:https://carerightinc.com/This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.comFind the products, practices, and routines discussed on the Alively website:https://alively.com